Erin Busch

The Importance of Support, Resources and Community
Composer/educator/cellist Erin Busch on making a difference.

Her music journey

“As a child, I never questioned whether I was ‘meant’ to be a musician — I knew that I was,” says composer, educator and cellist Erin Busch. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native started composing music when she was just eight years old. Amazingly, she had already been playing piano for a few years by that point. Always interested in education, she completed a peer mentorship program during her undergraduate years at Temple University, where she continued teaching in the theory and composition departments.

Reflecting on her early years as a cellist, Busch recalls that all of the pieces she was asked to perform were “written by people who had died long before my time — composers with names like Mozart, Beethoven or Bach.” It was only when she was in high school that she played a piece by a living composer for the first time: Rainbow Body, by Christopher Theofanidis. It made an immediate and unforgettable impact on the burgeoning musician. “The harmony sounded fresh and exciting, and each instrument in the orchestra blended into this beautiful collage of sound that I had never heard before,” she says. “I remember thinking, maybe someday I’ll write a piece like that.”

That was also the moment when Erin realized that every piece of music that she had ever played was written by a man. “At the time, I didn’t really know what to do with the realization that the world of composition didn’t seem to have a place for women. I do remember mostly just feeling sad and maybe a bit silly for believing that I could ever be a composer whose music would be performed by orchestras.” She would eventually found Wildflower Composers — an organization that provides support, resources and community to young female, transgender, nonbinary, and genderqueer composers — where she currently serves as Executive Director. She also serves as the Co-Founding Director of the OAcademy Gabriela Ortiz Composing Studio.

Her thoughts on education

Busch’s methodology as an educator is both flexible and insightful. “When working one-on-one with a student, I strive to listen and respond gently to the music that [they] present to me,” she explains. “It’s an incredibly vulnerable thing to present an unfinished piece of music to someone, and [so] I do my best to create a welcoming, supportive environment. I ask questions, and I take notes for myself so that my students don’t need to repeat themselves in future sessions.” Her approach differs slightly in classroom settings, where she focuses on explaining concepts slowly and step-by-step, with the goal of making sure that all her students are feeling supported and engaged with the material.

Erin’s recommendation to her fellow educators is that they incorporate regular composition opportunities into their classes in low-stress, pedagogically-informed ways. “For example, I have students write simple, short sight-singing exercises and pick several each week to sing together in class,” she says. “Frequent low-stakes assignments like these provide students with the chance to see what works and what doesn’t, and by the time they get to the longer or more intricate composition assignments, they’ve had a bunch of practice and are no longer intimidated.” In addition, she stresses the importance of exposing students to female composers at an early age.
“I grew up not learning about a single contemporary female composer, and it really made me question my place in the music world,” she reflects. “I know how much it would have meant to me to learn about another female composer who was able to ‘make it’ in today’s music world. You have the power to make that difference for your students.”

Message to the next generation

Erin Busch’s advice to the next generation of female, transgender and nonbinary composers and musicians is a straightforward one: “Know that we want you to keep making music. Even if your community doesn’t seem to welcome you, or doesn’t have resources for you, don’t give up. Your community is out there, and we can’t wait to see what you create.”